Petpix Art Studio - Merrilands

About Christine

Known professionally as Chris Eustace or by alias Chris Gaudion or Chris Cockitt

Chris has been selling art for over thirty years.

Well known in the Bay of Plenty for her work with youth, EBOP kart Club, Teaching, Ballet and Coaching various sports, Athletics, Soccer, Hockey, and in the Art field in particular for her pet portraits.

Her work can be found all over NZ, Australia, the UK , the USA and no doubt various parts in between.

She has exhibited in Auckland, Hamilton and the Bay of Plenty, Blenheim and now in Taranaki.

Born in Whakatane Chris grew up in the Te Urewera National Park as one of the true children of the mist.

Sensitivity to her natural surroundings and the love of form and dance is evident in her work.

Chris has won a number of art competitions from an early age.

Chris also won her first adult painting competition with a painting of a nude woman at the age of fifteen.Her first commission work was sold when she was sixteen years old.

As a teenager she earned pocket money making copper jewellery to sell at craft markets at Ohope Beach, this has now given way to silver and gemstone jewellery.

Since then Chris has sold lots of paintings most on a commission basis.

Art style has changed with the times.

Black ink pointillist in the 1970s and early 80s mostly of birds, insects, and Buildings.

In the 1980s Commercial posters and fabric designs, making animal puppets, china painting, silk painting, also stage settings and costume designs for ballet and operatic productions. She also designed and made flouro coloured clothes for children.

Book illustrations in the early 1990s and the completion of a teaching diploma and commercial arts diploma lead to the emergence of full time painting, with a flare for animals. With a high public profile commission pet portraits in pastel became a bread and butter line.

In 2004 a move to Auckland was made to be closer to the main population as most of her commission work was coming from there. Also to study with Masters Art students.

With a move to Blenheim in 2005 and its spectacular mountain views, oil and acrylic scenic paintings and pastel pet portraits are now dominating Chris’s work , all mostly on a commission basis. With a style that would now be considered a stylized form of realism.

2014 saw Chris move to Taranaki where she now works and teaches art.

The biggest art learning curve and best buzz I have had from the arts would be in learning to teach art as it made me really stop and think about what art is all about. Then to actually teach art is a real buzz, especially when teaching students with special needs or talents.

Phone: (+64) 6 758 3285

Mobile: 027 674 2189